A MOTHER blown up in a gas explosion in Newark could be identified only through her DNA, an inquest heard.
Pathologists were able to confirm the identity of Jeanette Rourke only through DNA matches with her mother and daughter, the court heard.
The Coroner for Notts, Mairin Casey, yesterday opened her investigation into the deaths of Jeanette, 40, and her father-in-law Leslie Rourke, 71, who died in the blast in Wright Street in May.
Ms Casey said that the cause of death for Leslie, a company director, was preliminarily recorded as smoke inhalation pending further tests, and his identity was confirmed by his son Robert Rourke.
Meanwhile, a cause of death for Jeanette has not yet been recorded by the pathologist, who was "awaiting further test results".
At the hearing in the Council House, Ms Casey said: "Jeanette was identified following DNA analysis from DNA taken from her mother and daughter."
The explosion, at around 5pm on Sunday, May 19, destroyed the terrace house and neighbouring properties, forcing more than 100 people in and around Wright Street to be evacuated from their homes for more than 48 hours.
The tragedy made national news. As well as claiming the lives of Jeanette and Leslie, the blast also severely injured Jeanette's husband Nicholas, 42, who was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre.
Firefighters found Leslie's body first.
But they had to dismantle the wreckage brick by brick before Jeanette's body could be removed.
As police investigated the cause of the blast it emerged that one of the lines of inquiry was whether members of the Rourke household had been carrying out DIY work to replace their central heating system in the moments before the blast.
No date has been set for when the inquest will resume.
